Smart Card Alliance Announces Board Members and Executive Leadership for 2012

SOURCE: The Smart Card Alliance

WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - November, 2011) - The 10^th Annual Smart Card Alliance Government Conference -- The Smart Card Alliance today announced its 2011-2012 board and seven-member executive committee. Elections were held during the 10th Annual Smart Card Alliance Government Conference, taking place this week through November 4^th at the Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington, DC.

"Our executive committee and board represent experts and leaders across the entire smart card industry, including government, enterprise, transit, payments and healthcare markets," said Randy Vanderhoof, executive director of the Smart Card Alliance. "The diversity and collaboration amongst our leadership will keep us at the forefront of the industry and enhance our ability to create educational resources like white papers, web seminars and conferences."

The Smart Card Alliance elected executive committee is made up of the following board members:

• Chair: Willy Dommen, Accenture
• Vice Chair: Garfield Smith, Oberthur Technologies
• Treasurer: Paul Legacki, Infineon Technologies
• Assistant Treasurer: Brian Russell, Giesecke & Devrient
• Secretary: Greg Garback, Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
• Assistant Secretary: Wendy Humphrey, Bank of America
• Technology Vice Chair: Neville Pattinson, Gemalto

"I am looking forward to working along with Randy Vanderhoof and the Alliance membership on projects that push the Smart Card Alliance further into the position as the leading resource on the security and privacy-enhancing uses of smart card technology," said new Chair Willy Dommen, Accenture.

Other newly elected or returning members to the Alliance board:

• Greg Boardman, Ingenico
• Kirk Brafford, Deloitte
• Frazier Evans, Booz Allen Hamilton
• Bob Gilson, U.S. Department of Defense/Defense Manpower Data Center
• Dale Grogan, LifeMed ID Inc.
• Simon Hurry, Visa Inc.
• John Mears, Lockheed Martin Corporation
• Oliver Manahan, MasterCard Worldwide
• Dominic Morea, First Data Corporation
• Dori Skelding, Chase Card Services
• Keith Ward, Northrop Grumman Corporation

For more news from the 10th Annual Smart Card Alliance Government Conference, follow the Smart Card Alliance on Twitter @SmartCardOrgUSA, hashtag #scagovconf, and Facebook at Smart Card Alliance.

About the Smart Card AllianceThe Smart Card Alliance is a not-for-profit, multi-industry association working to stimulate the understanding, adoption, use and widespread application of smart card technology.

Through specific projects such as education programs, market research, advocacy, industry relations and open forums, the Alliance keeps its members connected to industry leaders and innovative thought. The Alliance is the single industry voice for smart cards, leading industry discussion on the impact and value of smart cards in the U.S. and Latin America. For more information please visit http://www.smartcardalliance.org.

4Q.2011 Global Handset Market Share and Forecast: Global handset sales to rise to 1.918 billion in 2013 with Apple and ZTE taking market share away from Nokia, Samsung, and LG

Image via CrunchBase

NEW YORK, November 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:

4Q.2011 Global Handset Market Share and Forecast: Global handset sales to rise to 1.918 billion in 2013 with Apple and ZTE taking market share away from Nokia, Samsung, and LG

IEMR's Global Handset Market Share and Forecast is one of the most comprehensive database of its kind in the world, and it covers 28 vendors in 15 countries and 6 regional markets. We provide estimates and forecasts at the country level based on primary field research undertaken in these markets as part of IEMR's Global Consumer Telecommunications and Global Enterprise Telecommunications Surveys.

Our use of "sales" data-- which combine IEMR's survey data, operator surveys, and Point of Sale (POS) data globally-- is an accurate, robust, and forward-looking metric for shipment data announced by vendors in any given quarter.

To this comprehensive dataset, we are adding a PowerPoint presentation which provides an overview of key trends in the global handset vendor market. The database provides quarterly historical and forecast data starting in 2Q.2004 and ending in 4Q.2013, and annual data from 2005 to 2013F.

The companies covered include: Alcatel, Apple Inc., BenQ, Casio, Fujitsu, Hitachi, HTC, Huawei, Kyocera Corporation, Lenovo, LG, Electronics Inc., Mitsubishi Corporation, Motorola, Inc., NEC Corporation, Ningbo Bird Co.,Ltd., Nokia Oyj, Palm Inc., Panasonic Corporation, Pantech & Curitel Communication, Inc., Philips, Research In Motion Limited, Sagem Wireless, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., Sharp Corporation, Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB, Toshiba, and ZTE Corporation.

Why you should buy this report:

By purchasing this report, you will receive an Excel file with 27 datasheets: 6 regional forecasts, 20 country forecasts, and a global forecast. In each datasheet, we cover Handset Sales by Vendor (Thousands of Units), Handset Sales Growth (YoY), Handset Sales (Market Share, %), YoY Change in Handset Sales Market Share (bps), Top 6 Suppliers Handset Sales (Thousands of Units), and Top 6 Suppliers Handset Sales Market Share (%). The Excel file also has 27 charts of "Handset Sales by Top 6 Suppliers" – one for each country and region.

You will also receive a PowerPoint presentation which provides insights into the global mobile handset market. Overall, IEMR's Global Handset Market Share and Forecast provides answers to all of the following questions:

• What are the key trends in the global mobile handset market? How will this market grow over the next two years?

• Which region/country has the fastest growing mobile handset market in the world? What are the key trends in each region/country?

• How many mobile handsets will a specific handset supplier ship in each country/region?

• Which handset suppliers are the Top 6 suppliers in each region/county and how will this change over the next eight quarters?

This report will be useful to:

• Strategists and analysts at mobile handset suppliers responsible for handset strategy development and business analytics

• Device manufacturers in all areas of the telecommunications market that need strategy recommendations on key trends in the global mobile handset industry

• Financial analysts and portfolio managers covering firms in the mobile handset market

• Consultants advising their clients on mobile handset markets

• Researchers who need to gain a better understanding of the global mobile handset market

Regions Covered in this Forecast

Global

North America

South and Central America

Western Europe

Eastern Europe

Asia Pacific

Middle East and Africa

Countries Covered in this Forecast

Brazil

Canada

China

France

Germany

India

Italy

Japan

Mexico

Russia

South Africa

South Korea

Spain

United Kingdom

United States

Rest of South and Central America

Rest of Western Europe

Rest of Eastern Europe

Rest of Asia Pacific

Rest of Middle East and Africa

Companies Covered in this Forecast

Alcatel / TCT Mobile / TCL Communication

Apple Inc.

BenQ Corporation

Casio

Fujitsu

Hitachi

HTC Corporation

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Kyocera Corporation

Lenovo

LG Electronics Inc.

Mitsubishi Corporation

Motorola, Inc.

NEC Corporation

Ningbo Bird Co.,Ltd.

Nokia Oyj

Palm Inc.

Panasonic Corporation

Pantech & Curitel Communication, Inc.

Philips

Research In Motion Limited

Sagem Wireless

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.

Sharp Corporation

Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB

Toshiba

ZTE Corporation

Series Covered for each Country and Region: Quarterly data available from 2Q.2004 - 4Q.2013F; Annual data available from 2005 - 2013F

Handset Sales by Vendor (Thousands of Units)

Handset Sales Growth (YoY)

Handset Sales (Market Share, %)

YoY Change in Handset Sales Market Share (bps)

Top 6 Suppliers Handset Sales (Thousands of Units)

Top 6 Suppliers Handset Sales Market Share (%)

PowerPoint Presentation Table of Contents

Key Global Handset Sales Market Share Developments in 3Q.2011

Regional Handset Sales Market Share Developments in 3Q.2011

North America

Western Europe

Asia-Pacific

Middle East & Africa

Vendor Developments in 3Q.2011

Nokia Oyj

Samsung Electronics

ZTE Corporation

LG Electronics Inc.

Apple Inc.

IEMR's Global Handset Market Share Forecast for 2012 and 2013

Annex A: Detailed Vendor Market Share Metrics and Forecasts, 2010 - 2012

Annex B: IEMR's Methodology

To order this report:

Phones and PDA Industry: 4Q.2011 Global Handset Market Share and Forecast: Global handset sales to rise to 1.918 billion in 2013 with Apple and ZTE taking market share away from Nokia, Samsung, and LG

More  Market Research Report

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• Global Mobile Payments Users to Hit 893 Million in 2015 with $945 Billion in Transaction Value (epaymentnews.blogspot.com)
• Latest Mexico Mobile Payment Market Forecast Gross Transaction Value in Mexico to Rise to $10.3 Billion in 2015 (epaymentnews.blogspot.com)
• Mobile payments to be worth $945 Billion in 2015 (epaymentnews.2blog4.com)

The Payments Council Chooses Experian to Maintain Industry Database of Corporate Customer Payment Info

LONDON, November 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Experian, the global information services company, has been appointed by the Payments Council to create and maintain an industry database of corporate customers' payment information.  The central biller database, which will improve the accuracy of payments made using online and telephone banking, is scheduled to go live in late 2012.

Experian will collect, verify and standardise information from banks on how their corporate customers (billers) receive payments. The full database is to be used by banks to make it easier for online and telephone banking customers to find accurate information when paying their bills - for example, via simplified drop-down menus. The service will also benefit billers, who will find it easier to reconcile incoming electronic payments by providing more accurate billing information for customers to use.

The central biller database is an initiative from the Payments Council's recently published National Payments Plan (2011-2014), forming part of the Payment Council's programme of activity to enhance existing payment services through innovation.

Jonathan Williams, Director of Strategy at Experian Identity and Fraud comments: "Experian estimates up to a quarter of customer references are invalid or incorrectly formatted, increasing the time it takes to credit payments and sometimes preventing them from being credited altogether, particularly when bill issuers change their account details, switch banks, or are involved in a merger or takeover.

"This database will help ensure banks hold correct and up-to-date information for billers and it will give both corporate and consumer customers' confidence their payment will reach the right recipient and will be processed quickly."

Hilary Plattern, Head of Strategy for the Payments Council, said: "This innovative solution is a win-win: consumer customers making payments benefit from increased confidence in the accuracy of the information they use to pay bills online or over the phone, while companies can be confident their customers are using up-to-date bank account and sort code details, as well as correctly-formatted references.

"This new database is an excellent example of the Payment Council's commitment to put customers' needs at the centre of the way payment methods are designed. We look forward to working with Experian to develop and deliver this service."

About Experian

Experian is the leading global information services company, providing data and analytical tools to clients in more than 80 countries. The company helps businesses in the areas of fraud prevention and fraud solutions (including banking fraud), as well as helping to manage credit risk, target marketing offers and automate decision making. Experian also helps individuals to check their credit report and credit score, and protect against identity theft.

Experian plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (EXPN) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Total revenue for the year ended 31 March 2011 was US$4.2 billion.

For more information, visit http://www.experianplc.com.

About the Payments Council

The Payments Council is the body with responsibility for ensuring that payment services work for all those that use them in the UK.  This unique role ensures that it listens to a wide range of stakeholders to drive innovation in payments and implement change so that individuals and businesses have access to payments for their current and future needs.  The company is, by nature, a collaborative body so it works with the financial institutions in the payments industry as well as listening to the voices of its external stakeholders. The Payments Council has three core objectives: to have a strategic vision for payments and lead the future development of co-operative payment services in the UK; to ensure payment systems are open, accountable and transparent; and to ensure the operational efficiency, effectiveness and integrity of payment services in the UK.   

For more information visit http://www.paymentscouncil.org.uk

Credit Unions Wish Every Day was Bank Transfer Day

Credit unions report millions more in new savings – and millions in new loans, too

WASHINGTON:  /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Tens of thousands of consumers across the country joined credit unions on "Bank Transfer Day," Nov. 5, depositing millions in new savings and giving credit unions a brisk day of lending as well, the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), the nation's largest credit union advocacy group, reported today.

CUNA estimates that, based on the results of its survey, more than 40,000 consumers joined credit unions on Nov. 5, "Bank Transfer Day." About $80 million was recorded in new savings. Estimates for all credit unions were developed based on responses to a survey sent to about 1,100 credit unions nationwide.  The survey indicates that about four in every five of larger credit unions signed up new members on Nov. 5 – some signing up hundreds on that day. Many respondents indicated that they kept branches open that were typically closed on Saturdays, and/or that they extended Saturday office hours generally.

Further, more than 60 percent of the credit unions reporting signing up new members on Nov. 5 also said they had made new loans on that day. CUNA estimates that, overall, those credit unions made about $90 million in new loans on "Bank Transfer Day," to both new and existing members as not-for-profit cooperatives, credit unions typically offer better rates and lower fees compared to other financial institutions. CUNA estimates that consumers save annually $6.3 billion each year just by doing business with a credit union, an average of just under $70 per member.  "Any day is a good day to join a credit union, and consumers are welcome to explore their options with credit unions today and into the future," said CUNA President and CEO Bill Cheney.  Cheney said the survey response indicates momentum that credit unions realized in the weeks leading up to "Bank Transfer Day" continued right into Nov. 5 itself, with a specific spike in membership on that day.

"Since Sept. 29 – the day Bank of America announced its now-rescinded monthly $5 debit card fee – average estimated membership increases nationally were around 20,000 new members each day," Cheney said. "On Saturday, consumers doubled the pace. It's clear that consumers kept up their interest in credit unions."  Cheney also noted that many credit unions reported an increase in accounts and members in the week leading up to Nov. 5, as well as throughout the month of October. (CUNA reported last week that, based on the results of an earlier survey, it estimates that 650,000 consumers joined credit unions between Sept. 29 and the first week of November. Click here for more on the earlier survey.)

"Consumers should be given credit for being smart about what to do with their money," Cheney said. "Many obviously did not wait for a specific day, but took the time to make the change to a credit union in a deliberate manner.  Consumers made a smarter choice."  For example, the CUNA survey indicates that not all credit unions realized overwhelming activity on Nov. 5. "The activity volume was typical," wrote one respondent from Ohio. "We did not see any real boost from Bank Transfer Day given that none of the large banks that were initially planning to introduce debit card fees have a presence in our market."

But many others reported a steady stream of new members. "We opened 60 percent more accounts than we normally do in a good week," wrote one respondent from Georgia.  "We took 6 mortgage loan and 4 auto loan applications from the new members," wrote another credit union commenter from Illinois about activity on Saturday.

Cheney said the additional lending credit unions realized on Saturday was an especially encouraging sign, for credit unions and consumers. "This nation needs more economic activity to get back on its feet; credit unions are ready and willing to help gets things moving. Perhaps credit unions and their new members got things started on Nov. 5."  Cheney added that consumers can find a credit union to join – and learn more about credit unions – at aSmarterChoice.org.

About CUNA:
With its network of affiliated state credit union leagues, Credit Union National Association (CUNA) serves about 90 percent of America's 7,400 state and federally chartered credit unions, which are owned by nearly 92 million consumer members. Credit unions are not-for-profit cooperatives providing affordable financial services to people from all walks of life.  For more information about CUNA, visit www.cuna.org.  For more information about credit unions, visit www.aSmarterChoice.org and follow @asmarterchoice on Twitter.

SOURCE Credit Union National Association

TransFirst® Stays with TSYS and Forms Strategic Alliance With Planet Group, Inc.

Companies will collaborate on new, proprietary back-end processing system

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- TransFirst®, a leading provider of securetransaction processing services and payment enabling technologies, has entered into a strategic alliance with Planet Group, Inc., an information technology company dedicated to the financial payment space, to build a proprietary back-end processing system.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110824/DA57366LOGO)

Under the partnership, TransFirst will combine the best components of its OnTrak merchant management system with the processing power of Planet Group's Acquire360 software, creating an industry-leading solution for TransFirst's merchant customers and sales partners. The ability to control the processing environment will give TransFirst the opportunity for more flexibility in terms of pricing, reporting, customization and statement production, as well as speed-to-market and additional ability to penetrate new business verticals.

In conjunction with the Planet Group alliance, TransFirst has made the strategic decision to continue its long-standing business relationship with TSYS as its preferred front-end system provider. TSYS' best-in-class position for dial and IP authorization and capture technology, combined with Transaction Express™, TransFirst's innovative proprietary payment gateway, will create a solid foundation for future success.

"This venture will allow TransFirst to leverage its rapidly increasing scale and maximize efficiencies to help us better serve our clients and partners," says John Shlonsky, president and CEO of TransFirst. "Having our own back-end system will simplify our back office and create an ease of operations that will contribute to our already significant growth. We are confident that Planet Group will be an outstanding partner as we move forward with new solutions that will enhance our company's market value. We are equally pleased to extend our relationship with TSYS and look forward to continuing to work with them in the future."

"This deal with TransFirst lands right in our sweet spot as a company," says Tom Nichting, president and CEO of Planet Group, Inc. "Because Planet Group is dedicated to providing software and consulting services to the financial payment space, there's nothing better than working with a company like TransFirst, which fits solidly into our target for partnership. We look forward to providing the technology and support that will produce a mutually successful venture."

About TransFirst (www.transfirst.com)

A leading provider of secure transaction processing services and payment enabling technologies, TransFirst offers innovative products and services designed with financial institution, independent sales organization, healthcare, e-commerce, government and merchant customers' unique needs in mind. By collaborating with our customers and utilizing strong industry knowledge, we help them grow their businesses. Founded in 1995, TransFirst continues to attain significant market share and world-class expertise in growing and profitable industry segments. Built on a platform of personal service, customer commitment and flexible pricing, TransFirst is headquartered in Hauppauge, New York, and has operations facilities in Aurora, Colorado; Broomfield, Colorado; Omaha, Nebraska; Overland Park, Kansas; Arlington, Virginia; Nashville, Tennessee; Cypress, California; and executive headquarters in Dallas, Texas. Company-wide, TransFirst currently processes approximately $30 billion in annual sales volume, and for more than 175,000 merchants and financial institution partners. For additional information, please call 800.745.2659 or visit www.TransFirst.com.

About Planet Group, Inc. (www.planetgroupinc.com)

Planet Group, Inc. is a provider of software and consulting solutions dedicated to the financial payment space. Founded in 1996, it offers information technology management products and services that help companies streamline business processes, reduce costs and enhance productivity. Planet Group is a privately held company with more than 150 employees and is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. For additional information, please call 800.979.9166 or email info@planetgroupinc.com.

About TSYS (www.tsys.com)

TSYS provides digital commerce solutions that connect consumers, merchants, financial institutions, businesses and governments. Offering merchant payment-acceptance solutions, as well as services in credit, debit, prepaid, mobile, chip, healthcare, installments, money transfer and more, TSYS makes it possible for those in the global marketplace to conduct safe and secure electronic transactions. The company is headquartered in Columbus, Georgia. For more information, please visitwww.tsys.com.

SOURCE TransFirst

Bank of America Merrill Lynch Enhances Commercial Card Technology; Chip and PIN to Be Offered to U.S. International Travelers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Bank of America Merrill Lynch, a leading global commercial card provider to corporate and government entities, today announced that it would be expanding its offering of Chip and PIN technology to corporate cards for U.S. international travelers. The enhancement follows the adoption of full Chip and PIN technology for corporate clients in Europe last year and is in direct response to increased client demand. Chip and PIN is a natural extension of the company’s commercial card strategy to provide innovative card solutions in markets throughout Europe, Asia, North America and Latin America.

“Corporate travel cards help clients manage the complexity that comes with a growing volume of employees who travel abroad. We are very pleased to now offer our U.S. clients an improved solution that advances their convenience and security”

Chip technology, which is also known as EMV^® (EuroPay Mastercard Visa), allows card holders to make payments through chip-card readers that are regularly used in countries outside the U.S. The new cards can continue to be read by traditional magnetic stripe readers where Chip is not available. BofA Merrill will begin issuing the cards in the U.S. in first quarter 2012.

"Corporate travel cards help clients manage the complexity that comes with a growing volume of employees who travel abroad. We are very pleased to now offer our U.S. clients an improved solution that advances their convenience and security,” said Kevin Phalen, head of Commercial Cards and Comprehensive Payables, BofA Merrill, who added that the company is working closely with Visa and MasterCard to ensure that the cards will be immediately accepted upon rollout.

BofA Merrill’s corporate travel cards allow companies to consolidate reporting across multiple currencies and countries, and minimize foreign exchange expense with local currency settlement and payment. The Chip and PIN solution provides cardholders with improved confidence about the card’s security and acceptance. For instance, the EMV chip offers greater control over fraud since Chip point-of-sale (POS) terminals are more commonly brought directly to the customer who then provides a PIN number to complete the transaction. The card rarely leaves the cardholder’s hand.

The global utility of the card was an essential factor in its design. “We designed this card to be a solution that travelers can use in any region of the world – not just a U.S. dollar card that has a chip. We will continue to invest in card solutions that provide our clients’ employees with ease of use and security wherever they may travel,” Phalen added.

About Bank of America Merrill Lynch Commercial Card

Bank of America Merrill Lynch is a leading provider of commercial card solutions to large and middle market companies, globally, and to federal, state and local government entities in the United States. BofA Merrill’s Commercial Card group works with these organizations to design integrated ePayments solutions that help unlock working capital while increasing efficiency, visibility and control. BofA Merrill cardholders can be served in numerous languages and have access to a worldwide network of more than 30 million credit card merchants and ATMs. For more information regarding BofA Merrill’s card solutions, please visithttp://corp.bankofamerica.com/business/ci/card-solutions.

20,000 and Growing: Massachusetts' Credit Unions See Record Levels of New Members

Rising Membership Fueled by Backlash Against Increased Bank Fees

MALRBOROUGH, Mass., Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Fed up with increasing fees imposed by banks, Massachusettsconsumers are moving their deposits from banks to local credit unions by the tens of thousands in search of more consumer-friendly pricing and better customer service.  

The Massachusetts League estimates that between September 29th and October 29th, 2011, at least 19,700 consumers across the state joined a credit union, adding $136 million in new credit union deposits. September 29th marked the day that Bank of America (BofA) announced its $5 monthly debit card fee, which was later rescinded after consumer uproar. 

Statewide estimates are still being gathered for the impact of "Bank Transfer Day," a grassroots-led initiative urging consumers to transfer their accounts from banks to credit unions by Saturday, November 5th. But, preliminary numbers suggest continued momentum. Digital Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union in New England with 330,000 total members, reported that it signed on 133 new members on Saturday, a 56% increase from the 85 account openings it averages on a Saturday.

"Bank Transfer Day was a success because it prompted consumers to rediscover, or even learn for the first time, about the credit union," said Dan Egan, CEO/President of the Massachusetts Credit Union League.

In addition, the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) reported 40,000 consumers joined a credit union on Bank Transfer Day. Since BofA announced its fee hike, 20,000 people a day on average have joined nationwide.

"We expect this interest to continue as consumers spread the word about the benefits of joining a financial institution whose mission is to serve its members, not its shareholders," added Mr. Egan. "There are over 200 credit unions throughout our state where consumers can walk in, and feel in control of their wallet again. People can say no to the big banks and big fees. Bank Transfer Day is only the beginning."

Consumers can find their local credit union at aSmarterChoice.org.

Related articles

• Hundred$ of Thousand$ of Consumer$, Billion$ Move to Credit Union$ (epaymentnews.blogspot.com)
• Hundred$ of Thousand$ of Consumer$, Billion$ Move to Credit Union$ (nfcdata.com)
• Credit unions score 40,000 new accounts on Bank Transfer Day (dailykos.com)
• Credit unions 101 - How switching to a credit union can save you money (forbes.com)
• Bank Transfer Day: A Roundup of Credit Union Alternatives (savings.com)